Tag: Austin McKinley

Picture Book Review: Fly, Firefly! by Shana Keller

On By Only Picture BooksIn Picture Book Reviews

Fly, Firefly!
Author: Shana Keller
Illustrator: Ramona Kaulitzki
Sleeping Bear Press
1 March 2020
32 pages

This month’s PB review is by Ryan G. Van Cleave (#1 Firefly Fan at Only Picture Books) and Florida-​based freelance artist Austin McKinley.

–Ryan’s Review of the Writing–

Fly, Firefly! tells the story of what happens to a single firefly when “a wind current carried him out to see the sea.” While out there, he sees winking lights beneath the water–other fireflies, perhaps? So he dives into the water and can’t get out. He’s rescued by “my niece and I” who explain that the underwater fireflies were in fact the glow of marine plankton–“bioluminescence swirling and twirling through the great sea!” The eponymous firefly is then released on land where he finds his fellow fireflies, and all is well again.

The smoothness and sense of most of the rhymes make lines such as “He dove and splashed through the wet glass, but under the surface, air did not last” stand out. Another line that gives this reviewer pause is “The sea pushed and tugged while I scooped up our bug.” While the second part of the Back Matter does an effective job of offering STEM-​style information on fireflies (a.k.a. lightning bugs)–including pointing out that they’re beetles, not flies–it doesn’t say that they aren’t bugs either (a fact, despite what this line claims). Considering that this book does have a science fact focus–and given the popularity of the term “lightning bugs”–this distinction seems useful to make at some point. Ultimately, the reason the word “bug” is there seems clear–to fit the rhyme, not the science.

Taken as a whole, the text works, though the overall story isn’t a story so much as an anecdote since it’s unclear whether the main character could/​should be the firefly (witness the title, and how it’s the first character we see on page one and in the last spread), the first-​person speaker (who’s an older character), or the niece, Marjie (who rescues the firefly and explains bioluminescence to it in Dr. Doolittle fashion that belies her very young age).

What gives away the real goal of the book is the first page of the Back Matter–the author read a letter that Silent Spring author and environmentalist Rachel Carson wrote to a friend about her own memorable encounter with a firefly half a century ago. An excerpt of that letter shows that Rachel herself considered writing a children’s book about the experience, though she clearly never did such a thing. Some readers might find it gratifying that Shana Keller helped fulfill Rachel’s impulse here with Fly, Firefly!.

The other selling points of this book are the really fine art (see what Austin says below!) and the second half of the Back Matter that gets into the science and biology of fireflies. It’s a plus that the author has so much information on Rachel , too, because kids need to know about her impactful life and work, without a doubt. If Shana Keller opts to write a nonfiction book about Rachel Carson (or the worldwide impact of Silent Spring) with the quality she used in her picture book biography, Ticktock Banneker’s Clock, OPB will be eager to see it.

If you’re a firefly fan or you just love good picture book art, Fly, Firefly! is likely to brighten up your nights.

3.5 out of 5 pencils

– Austin’s Review of the Illustrations–

German Illustrator Ramona Kaulitzki’s sumptuous illustrations are so kinetic you can practically hear them, but nevertheless remain calming and peaceful. Here she explores the entire spectrum from the warm glow of the firefly’s body, through a masterful rendering of magic-​hour twilight, to the swirling blues and greens of glowing plankton churning in the waves, all in tints pure and moody without being brooding.

The forest at dusk comes alive. The panoply of sea life she depicts with exquisite sensitivity, whereas the human and titular firefly characters she handles with appealing whimsy.

Her choice of perspectives is also fascinating. We soar through the air, plunge into the waves, and plod along the beach as the sparkling stars hang over the day’s last glow. She skillfully captures mood and emotion—it’s a truly magical, evocative experience that perfectly portrays the parallels of life-​generated lights that created such an impression on biologist Rachel Carlson, and subsequently author Shana Keller.

A look through Ramona’s portfolio will reveal a flair for stylizing the natural world in a sophisticated but approachable way both dynamic and heartwarming without ever becoming saccharine. Her work is digital, but has a very organic, textural, handmade quality that reminds one of mid-​century children’s illustration, like a next-​generation Alain Grée or J.P. Miller. Her staging, however, is far more clever and interesting, her cartooning more fine-​tuned, her palette more refined.

It’s a fine line to walk, but she dances along it expertly in Fly, Firefly!

5 out of 5 crayons

Austin McKinley makes comic books, cartoons, movies, video games, screenplays, novels and novellas through his company, Flying Car. He shot and appeared in the award-​winning feature documentary The New 8‑Bit Heroes alongside director Joe Granato. His comic illustrations have also been published by Image Shadowline, Devil’s Due/​1st Comics, Alias/​Blue Water Press, Avatar, Boom!, Blue King Studios, and FC9. He wrote and illustrated Squareasota, a weekly cartoon in the Sarasota Herald-​Tribune for seven years.
He is currently illustrating Tales of Mr. Rhee vol. 5: Rockstar Paranoia, a graphic novel for Source Point Press.

Picture Book Review: Soar High, Dragonfly! by Sheri Mabry Bestor

On By Only Picture BooksIn Picture Book Reviews

Soar High, Dragonfly!
Author: Sheri Mabry Bestor
Illustrator: Jonny Lambert
Sleeping Bear Press
14 March 2019
32 pages

This month’s PB review is by Ryan G. Van Cleave (Top Science Buff at Only Picture Books) and OPB review newcomer, freelance artist Austin McKinley.

–Ryan’s Review of the Writing–

Soar High, Dragonfly!, the new picture book by Sheri Mabry Bestor (author of Good Trick Walking Stick), gives readers insight into the world of dragonflies with just enough science to work into STEM curricula.

The text works in two ways–the large-​font words at the top of each page make up the lyrical story of a dragonfly’s life cycle. That’s where we find techniques such as onomatopoeia where we hear the POP POP POP of a dragonfly laying eggs onto the water surface. It’s there that readers encounter strong words (squirts, thrusts, captures, gulp!) that make the moments come alive.

But the differently-​colored words–generally found at the bottom of many of the pages–work like a sidebar. The supplementary text there is informative and very straightforward, such as “Dragonfly eggs are very small and have no way to protect themselves. Many are eaten by fish, frogs, and other insects before they have a chance to hatch.” Science-​reluctant readers could potentially skip those parts and still find much to enjoy from this book, though without a doubt, this information adds to the overall experience.

While the sidebar-​style parts give this book depth, a robust backmatter section might’ve given this book a little extra oomph that so many nonfiction titles have today. Regardless, it’s a compelling title made even more so by the vibrant art that makes the “insect hero” of this story come alive.

4 out of 5 pencils

– Austin’s Review of the Illustrations–

Prolific UK illustrator Jonny Lambert graces the book with lustrous, intricately cut and collage-​textured compositions. A comparison to Eric Carle’s 1969 classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar would be apt, because of the saturated palette and rich patterns, but also a disservice because Lambert brings his own expert and playful animator’s draftsmanship to bear, creating a warmly familiar but entirely distinct sensibility—and an order of magnitude more detail.

In a career spanning over 300 titles, Lambert has interpreted almost every member of the animal kingdom.  Although only the second collaboration with the author of Soar High Dragonfly, this is a rare example of Lambert’s insect renderings which he nevertheless approaches with adroit sensitivity. Even a brown, molting nymph seems friendly and endearing, while maintaining the book’s blend of elementary simplification and scientific accuracy.

Amazingly in the digital age, the technique is a traditional one, involving—as the artist says—layers of gouache “tickled” through individual stencils derived from hand-​drawn designs, and finished with colored pencil. His artistic attention seems to be lavished on every aspect of the process, from playful character creation to painstaking execution.

The book’s broad cast of predators and prey play out their primal drama amid a sumptuous environment of swirling shallow water and lush aquatic plant life, and Lambert’s spacious layouts and text interactions underscore the joy of flight embraced by a jewel-​toned master of his medium.

4 out of 5 crayons

Austin McKinley’s work crosses many different forms of media, from comic books and cartooning to short film directing, video production, video games, screenplays, novels and novellas. Most recently he produced, shot and appeared in the award-​winning feature documentary “The New 8‑Bit Heroes” alongside director Joe Granato, and created “By The Numbers,” a feature-​length abstract animation representing cinematic structure. He is the author of several works and collections through his company, Flying Car. His comic illustrations have also been published by Image Shadowline, Devil’s Due/​1st Comics, Alias/​Blue Water Press, Avatar, Boom!, Blue King Studios, and FC9. He wrote and illustrated “Squareasota,” a weekly cartoon in the Sarasota Herald-​Tribune for seven years. He lives and works in Sarasota.
Learn more about Austin and his work: